International aid convoy to Gaza due to sail Sunday

LONDON – October 15 – A ship loaded with vehicles and aid for Gaza is due to leave Syria for Egypt this Sunday, carrying members of Palestine Solidarity CampaignUK.

The ship will pass the exact place in international waters where Israel boarded the Mavi Marmara in May and killed nine Turkish humanitarians on board as they attempted to sail to Gaza to deliver aid.

Those on board the ship, including 40 survivors of the Mavi Marmara attack, will throw a wreath into the sea to commemorate those killed by Israeli troops.

They have come from more than 30 countries, in the first international aid convoy to attempt to reach Gaza since the attack on the Mavi Marmara nearly five months ago.

Amena Saleem, of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK (PSC), who will be sailing on the ship, said: ‘We will be sailing, completely unarmed, to Egypt from where we will drive 20 miles to Gaza to break the illegal siege imposed by Israel four years ago. We are all aware of the lethal force Israel used on the Mavi Marmara against international civilians on an aid mission, but we will not be deterred. We will never turn our backs on Gaza, despite all of Israel’s efforts to force us to do so.’

She added: ‘It is now time for the depth of our commitment to Palestine to be reflected by our governments – ordinary people are demanding an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, and an end to the siege of Gaza. Governments, by applying international pressure, can make this happen and we call on them to listen to their people and do so immediately.’